Nestled among rolling hills and a forest of greenery just west of Little Rock, sits Goodwin Manor. With stunning vistas, immaculate grounds, and indoor venue space as well, this private estate home is a dream setting for Arkansas brides and grooms to exchange vows and celebrate with family and friends. We sat down with proprietor Andrea Goodwin to learn more about all Goodwin Manor has to offer. | Sponsored Content
Weddings in Arkansas: Tell us a bit about the history of Goodwin Manor.
Andrea Goodwin: Our home has a deep Arkansas history. It was built by Jack Hartsell Construction and features over 1,600 tons of Hackett, Arkansas fieldstone application. All of the ironwork was all designed and installed by a Joe T. Robinson graduate, David Frasier, whose grandfather was an ironsmith in the Pinnacle Mountain valley area. And, all of the home’s wood design work and pieces were handcrafted by a variety of Arkansas artisans.
We have raised our six children in this home, and we still live here full time. We sit up on top of a mountain overlooking the Ouachita Valley to the south and west and Pinnacle Mountain and Shinall Mountain to our north and east, along with tons of valleys everywhere in between. Obviously, we are very jaded, but we feel this is one of the most beautiful and natural locations in all of Arkansas.
WIA: When did Goodwin Manor begin to be used as a wedding and event venue?
We began offering our home to others about 20 years ago. And, as we shared our home with charity organizations, schools, and private groups who wanted to come out to tour the grounds and see the architecture, we began to receive requests to hold small weddings.
WIA: Tell us about the types of events and party sizes you can accommodate.
AG: Couples and charities can hold dinners, ceremonies, and receptions at our estate home. We have indoor and outdoor spaces that truly make Goodwin Manor a perfect location for smaller more, intimate events. We also offer an onsite planner, who can work with you to make your wedding, charity dinner, or corporate reception unique to you. We can also accommodate larger groups; however, if your group is more than 125 persons, we like to work with you personally for a rain and transportation plan.
WIA: Why do you think brides and grooms fall in love with Goodwin Manor and its setting?
AG: I think its location, the European feel, the craftsmanship of our home and our grounds are all reasons brides and charity groups select us to host their events. The home was designed with entertaining in mind.
But also, our work ethic, strong attention to detail, our passion for charity work, and our love of the city of Little Rock and our community of Ferndale, are all reasons guests ask us to host. We work very hard to maintain our home and the surrounding 80 acres, and we want guests to feel welcome here. Come visit our rescue pups, kitty cats, ducks, chickens, and guinea pigs. Pick a tomato or squash or pumpkin out of our garden. Hang a hammock from one of our many trees and read a book; it’s very inviting out here! Just call in advance. This is our home, and we want to be here for several more years!
Goodwin Manor | 3708 Garrison Road, Little Rock | 501.590.4560 | thegoodwinmanor.com | Facebook | Instagram
Top image: Wedding photo by B. Matthews Photo, previously published in Weddings in Arkansas. Third image by Rett Peek shot for Weddings in Arkansas. Other images Courtesy of Goodwin Manor.